The past couple days have been really strange. I also have shitty reception up here, so I'm sorry for not updating. They sent a police officer up yesterday morning but I feel like it didn't accomplish anything.
I explained everything to the cop, and even took him out to the clearing where I found the stuff, but it was all gone except for the notebook. And since the notebook is empty, it was basically useless. I feel like the cop didn't believe me, anyway.
I showed him the photos I took of the stick things, and he said at worst it counted as vandalism, but without physical evidence of trespassing they couldn't do anything. Even when I showed him the video he still acted really skeptical.
He kept asking if I knew the person in the video. I think he thought I was pranking him or something. I ended up just getting frustrated. The cop said to call the station if something happened.
After he left I went back and got the notebook from the clearing. Maybe there's a way to figure out what was written on the last page? I don't know.
Anyway, the cop drove away and I was alone again. It's so damn quiet up here. All I want to do is leave but I feel like I can't. I'm so far away from home that I can't even invite a friend up here to keep me company. And even if someone did come, it would take them a couple days.
I haven't seen the woman from before. But I feel like she's still out there. And other weird things are happening too. I took a walk around the lake yesterday because I wanted to get a look at the other houses in the area. Maybe see if someone else has noticed anything weird.
But they're all empty. Every house is totally dark and there are no cars in any of the driveways. I haven't seen a single person at all, except once. Well, sort of. After I came back from my walk, I was out on the deck and saw a boat in the water, way off in the distance.
They weren't moving. They stayed there all afternoon. I feel like they were...watching me.
They actually stayed out there in the same place until it got too dark to see them anymore. Normally I'd think they were just fishing, if it weren't for what happened the day before. And the fact that all these houses seem empty. Where did they come from?
The boat was gone this morning, so who knows. I microwaved some oatmeal for breakfast and took it down to the dock near the water. It's weird but I sort of feel safer down there. The water makes me feel less stressed, I guess.
I kind of feel like time goes by faster when I'm by the lake. It's, like, meditative or whatever.
Anyway, I was actually starting to feel a little better about everything this morning, if it wasn't for what happened next. I had finished my oatmeal and I was starting back toward the house when I noticed something in the water.
It was in this little inlet by the shore. It was small and white, and at first I thought it was a brightly colored rock, but I wasn't sure. It seemed too round.
Probably against my better judgement, I took off my shoes and went into the water to retrieve it.
It was an eyeball. A fucking eyeball.
This has to be from an animal, right? Please tell me this is from a big fish or something.
I threw it back in the water and hustled back up to the house. I washed my hands in the sink and then sat on the couch for a long time. I don't know what's going on. I can't believe I picked that up out of the water. I still feel gross.
And to make matters worse, the boat is back out there. It showed up again this afternoon, and it's just sitting there, in the same place as yesterday. Are they watching me from that boat?
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I'm still here. I'm alive. I left the house after that night.
I decided not to sell it. I don't think anyone would buy it, anyway. I locked the doors and I got in my car and I left. I'm home now, trying to process everything.
The morning after, it was so quiet and peaceful in the woods. It was like nothing had happened at all. I'm still not sure what to believe. It sort of feels like it happened to someone else. Or like I dreamed it, maybe.
It's been storming all day, and into the night. Thunder and everything. I've stayed inside all day. Nothing has happened yet. Maybe nothing will happen.
Still, I'm nervous. I've been freaked out all day. Maybe I shouldn't have stayed. I don't know what's wrong with me. I should leave tomorrow.
I'm not even really sure what I'm saying. I just need to occupy myself with something. Writing this makes me feel less alone. It's like I'm talking to someone.
I was in the kitchen washing a glass and I heard...something outside, on the deck. A scratching sound. And then it stopped. I thought I imagined it, but then I heard footsteps.
And for some reason I just ran outside without thinking. I don't know what's wrong with me. I don't even know if I'm scared anymore, I just want answers.
I'm sorry I haven't said anything in a while. I've been staying in a motel about an hour outside of town. When I left the house that night, I just kept driving until I felt like I was far enough away to feel safe.
I called a locksmith but they weren't able to come out right away, and there was no way I was going back to the house without new locks. So I've been waiting it out here until I can go back. Basically doing nothing. Jumping at every little sound and feeling crazy.
Finally, a couple days ago, the locksmith called back and said he'd come out, so I checked out of the motel and got in my car to drive home. It was a pretty long drive back, and the closer I got to the woods the worse I felt.
Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself. I can barely type. Sorry. I'll try to explain.
Alright, so. I was in the woods out back yesterday when it started pouring. It happened really suddenly and even though I wasn't far from the house I got soaked anyway. It rained most of the evening. I left my clothes by the fireplace to dry and ended up going to bed early.
I'd basically forgotten about it after finding them outside the house. I put them in the back of the closet and pretty much stopped thinking about them.
But yesterday I found something else. There's this little alcove upstairs with built in shelves and a bunch of old books. Sort of a mini library. I was flipping through some of them looking for something to read when I came across this little book about wine.